Tourism Enhancement and Area Marketing Grant Program

The Tourism Enhancement and Area Marketing Grant Program is administered by the Moore County Tourism Development Authority, operating as Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen. This organization is a legislatively mandated entity responsible for collecting a six percent occupancy tax on paid lodging within Moore County, North Carolina, and reinvesting those funds into tourism promotion and development initiatives. The program is designed to stimulate economic growth by increasing overnight visitation and strengthening the county’s tourism infrastructure. By focusing on projects that attract visitors from outside a fifty mile radius, the program aims to create measurable economic impact through lodging, dining, retail, and related tourism activities. The primary purpose of the grant program is to support the creation or expansion of multi day events, meetings and conferences, tourism enhancement initiatives, wayfinding and beautification projects, and permanent public art installations. Eligible projects must demonstrate the ability to attract overnight visitors and contribute to sustained tourism growth. Funding may be used for marketing efforts conducted outside the local area, event related expenses such as venue, audio visual services, transportation, or speaker fees, and physical improvements that enhance the visitor experience. However, funds cannot be used for local marketing, lodging expenses, general administrative costs, or projects that do not align with tourism development goals. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, municipalities, and organizers of large multi day events that can demonstrate significant visitor attendance and overnight stays. Certain project categories have additional restrictions, such as tourism improvement and wayfinding projects, which are limited to governmental or municipal applicants. Ineligible applicants include political organizations, religious functions, fundraisers, school related activities, and family reunions. All funded projects must take place within Moore County and adhere to specific requirements such as public accessibility, alignment with tourism objectives, and compliance with local regulations. The application process requires submission of a complete proposal during the designated application window, which for the current cycle runs from July 15 through August 28. Applications may be submitted electronically via email or delivered in person to the Moore County Tourism Development Authority office. Applicants must include detailed project descriptions, marketing plans where applicable, financial information, and evidence of anticipated tourism impact. Marketing plans for funded events must be submitted for approval prior to execution, and recipients are responsible for managing advertising placements and providing proof of performance for reimbursement. Applications are evaluated by a review committee composed of members of the Tourism Development Authority Board. Evaluation criteria include the strength and completeness of the proposal, the financial stability of the applicant, and the projected tourism impact, including expected room nights and community benefits. Final funding decisions are made by the Board of Directors, and awards may be partial or contingent upon achieving specific milestones. The program is competitive, and not all applicants will receive funding due to limited resources. The grant program operates on a defined timeline, with application review occurring after the submission deadline and award announcements scheduled for September 30 of the same year. All awarded funds must be expended by June 30 of the following year, and unused funds cannot be carried over. Recipients must comply with reporting and documentation requirements, including submission of invoices and proof of expenditures. The program is offered on a recurring annual basis, providing ongoing opportunities for organizations to develop tourism focused initiatives that contribute to the economic vitality of Moore County.

Demonstrate clear tourism impact with projected overnight stays; provide detailed marketing plan targeting out of market visitors; ensure all project details and financial rationale are thorough and well documented